Tesla Model S and Elon Musk to showcase cars in the UK, following successful launch event.

First RHD customer deliveries in the world presented by Tesla CEO Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk delivered five new cars to customers in London on Saturday at an event to welcome the arrival of right hand drive (RHD) Model S in the UK. The occasion marks the beginning of a planned rapid expansion in the country in the coming two years.

Today, Tesla operates a store in Westfield White City and a service centre in West London. By the end of 2014, however, customers will be able to visit Tesla stores and service centres across the UK. Tesla will also continue to hold test-drive events around the country.

RHD MODEL S IN THE UK

Model S is an uncompromised electric car that delivers 312 miles of NEDC range on a single charge. With a17-inch touchscreen, an outstanding safety record, and an acceleration of 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, the fully electric Model S breaks the mould. The car and the company have received numerous accolades, includingAutocar magazine’s Sturmey Award for Automotive Excellence and Telegraph Motoring’s Best Eco Car, voted for by readers. Top Gear Magazine called the Model S “the most important car Top Gear (Magazine) has tested.”

Tesla is committed to giving customers the best possible Model S experience no matter where they live. With that in mind, the company has completed a country-specific validation programme to ensure the vehicles are optimised for every market in which they are sold. Right hand drive cars in the UK come with software specific to the country and a configuration that fits the needs of owners who drive on the left hand side of the road. Everything from the wipers to the braces in the front trunk have been re-fitted for RHD. 

The arrival of RHD Model S is accompanied by the Model S iPhone app, available in the UK iTunes store. The app puts Model S owners in direct communication with their cars anytime, anywhere. Owners can use the app to check on charging progress, start or stop charging, and heat up or cool down Model S before driving (even if it's in a garage).

In the UK, prices for the Model S start at £50,280 on the road, including the £5,000 government plug-in grant. UK Model S customers can also benefit from other government incentives, including zero road tax, zero showroom tax, and exemption from London Congestion Charge. The car is also eligible for the 100 percent First Year Allowance for company purchase and 0 percent Benefit in Kind, both of which last until April 2015.

FIRST UK SUPERCHARGER

Tesla also energised the first Supercharger location in the UK at the delivery event. The Crystal site at London’s Royal Victoria Docks represents the beginning of a route to Paris and then the rest of Europe, which will enable Model S drivers to travel long distances in the UK and on the continent for free.

“Superchargers enable long distance travel but also, in a city where off street parking is rare and expensive, Model S customers will be able to access a network of Superchargers across London to charge, quickly and for free, at their convenience,” said Elon Musk. “We are looking at locations across the capital to place our first set of inner city Superchargers. Our plan for routes to other cities in the UK is still on target for the end of the year, but we are also announcing this new initiative in order to best serve our London-based customers. We expect customers to be able to travel the length of the UK and Ireland for free using our Superchargers within the next 18 months”

Musk said that by the end of the year Model S drivers will be able to travel almost anywhere in Europe using Superchargers. The company is energising Superchargers at a rate of close to one per weekday. 116 Supercharger locations are energised worldwide including 19 locations in Europe. Tesla Superchargers have so far offset more than 2.5 million litres of petrol.

The Tesla Supercharger is one of the most powerful charging technologies available in the world today, providing up to 120 kilowatts of direct current to the Model S battery. Superchargers replenish half a charge in as little as 20 minutes and are strategically placed along well-travelled highways to allow Model S owners to drive from station to station with the fewest possible stops. Superchargers are located near amenities like restaurants, cafes, and shopping centres so drivers can stop for a quick meal and have their Model S charged at the same time.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including statements regarding future store, service centre and Supercharger locations and capabilities as well as statements regarding sales expectations in Europe, are “forward-looking statements” that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, and as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those projected. Various important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including potential difficulties in finding suitable store, service centre and Supercharger sites, negotiating leases or obtaining required permits for such locations and customer acceptance of our brand and vehicles in Europe and Asia, as well as the risks and uncertainties identified under the sections captioned “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results Of Operations” in Tesla’s Form 10-K filed on February 26, 2014. Tesla disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements.